seeking assistance with stocking

[Vaxonel]

After getting rid of those pesky yellow tail damsels, I'm excited to share our updated tank stocking plan for our 48usg.

Current tankmates include:
- 2 tank-bred percular clowns
- 1 social fairy wrasse
- 1 bangaii cardinal
- 1 yellow watchman goby

Next additions are:
- 1 purple firefish ( Hopefully, they'll get along)
- 1 royal gramma
- 1 flame angel

Considering adding one more, maybe:
- 1 longnose hawkfish - or do you guys have any other suggestions?

[fleeton]

I'd caution against the hawkfish, they can be quite aggressive. Maybe consider adding another fairy wrasse instead, there are some lovely varieties out there that could complement your social fairy wrasse nicely.

[Vaxonel]

I've rethought my stocking plan and I think I'll stick with what I've got so far: the 2 tank bred percular clowns, the social fairy wrasse, the bangaii cardinal, the yellow watchman goby, the purple firtideflow, the royal gramma, and the flame angel. Then, I'll just wait and see what catches my eye later on. How many more fish do you think I could safely add to this group?

[dune9x]

I've personally had great experiences with Longnose hawks, no issues whatsoever. If you're looking for something unique, a small group of Chalk Bass can be quite stunning. Alternatively, you could also consider introducing a group of Royal Grammas at the same time - they do well in numbers. Another option might be a pair of Neon Gobies, they're quite fascinating to watch.

[Vaxonel]

Honestly, I'm not too keen on adding groups yet, I'd rather wait till I've upgraded to a bigger tank. Don't want to limit my options with a group of fish, I've always preferred single specimens.

[flynix]

Your stocking plan seems pretty similar to what I'm aiming for. I was considering a longnose hawkfish too, but I've heard they can be quite aggressive, which is a shame since they look amazing. I've been looking at some other options that you haven't mentioned - the green clown goby, filamented flasher wrasse, and mystery wrasse. The rest of the fish I'm looking at are either on your list or similar, like the dottyback.

As for stocking levels, my LFS told me that for a tank our size, around 8-10 fish would be a good number, depending on their size and other factors. Hopefully, that helps a bit.

[zenoxa]

I've had a falco hawkfish, not the longnose variety, in with smaller fish and he never bothered them. They're lovely, with great temperaments, but the larger ones can be predators and territorial, so you've got to be careful.

[Vaxonel]

Considering the stocking I've got planned - 2x tank bred percular clowns, 1x social fairy wrasse, 1x bangaii cardinal, 1x yellow watchman goby, 1x purple firtideflow, 1x royal gramma, 1x flame angel - I'm thinking of adding another fish. Maybe a longnose hawkfish or something else that would fit in well with the rest.

[zenoxa]

I think you've got a good balance there, adding a longnose hawkfish could work, but you've also got other options, like one of the fish flynix mentioned, a green clown goby or a filamented flasher wrasse, either of those could be a good fit.

[Velorum]

I'd advise against the flame angel, to be honest. Firstly, they're really pricey. Secondly, you need to provide them with a lot of algae or they'll start eating your corals - I came across an article in PFK that highlighted this issue. Apparently, one flame angel completely destroyed a reef tank. If you're looking for a similar fish, I'd suggest something like a coflake beauty. But, to be fair, all angels can be a bit of a risk in a reef tank unless it's a massive one.